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John James Obituary
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He was born on August 4, 1932, in Williamsport, MD, to the late Frank Watkins and Hannah Ruth Mentzer James.
He attended Williamsport Schools. He was a self-educated engineer.
John was a veteran of the U.S. Navy for 8 years and was aboard the USS Midway for 4 years during the Korean War.
He was a plant engineer at WD Byron & Sons and Garden State Tanning for 40 years until his retirement. He was previously employed by Cushwa Brick Yard.
After retirement, he engineered the rewatering of the Cushwa Basin at the C&O Canal.
John was a lifelong member of St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church Williamsport, MD. He was also a member of Potomac Post #202 American Legion Williamsport, MD and the Town of Williamsport Museum Committee (Town Crier).
John loved to build houses, cabins, clubhouses, bridges, toys for his children (jet swings, a rideable steam locomotive, mini castle, cable cars, and a carousel for his wife). He also built a canal boat to scale, Kite Building.
He is survived by his wife, Marion Patrice (Smith) James whom he married on September 6, 1958; daughters Johnna Maravelis, Karen Farrow (Jim), Ann James, and Ali James (Kari); sons David James, Stephen James (Beth), Chris James (Tammy), and Paul James (Laura); brother Frank James; 16 grandchildren; 15 great grandchildren; 1 great great grandchild; numerous nieces and nephews.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters Ella Mae Bentley Shain and Marie James; brothers Alfred James and Paul James; son-in-law Marshall Maravelis, Jr.
The family will receive friends at the Osborne Funeral Home, P.A. 425 S. Conococheague St. Williamsport, MD on Sunday, August 25, 2025, from 5:00 – 8:00 pm. Prayers will be offered at 6:00 pm. The funeral home will be open after 1:00 pm on Sunday for the convenience of family and friends.
A mass of Christian burial will be held at St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church Williamsport, MD on Monday, August 25, 2025, at 9:00 am with Father David Ray celebrant. Burial will be private.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: St. Augustine Roman Catholic Church 32 E. Potomac St. Williamsport, MD 21795
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
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